Process of rolling metallic sheet and plate materials



March 12, 1940. v. J. GIBBONS PROCESS 0F ROLLING METALLIC SHEET AND PLATE MATERALS Filed June 4. 1937 2 sheets-sheet 1 Mardi 12 1940- v. J. GIBBoNs 2,193,231

PRQGESS 0F ROLLING METALLIC SHEET AND PLATE MATERIALSv ruba June 4, 1957 2 sheets-sneer 2 lll www

Patented Mar. 12, 1940 PROCESS 0F ROLLING METALLIC SHEET AND PLATE MATERIALS vincent J. Gibbons, columbus, oni@ applicati@ June 4, 1937, serial N. 146,480

4 Claims.

Heretofore, -plates or panels of the character specified have been'constructed from a plurality of separate metallic bars joined together with screws or other fastening devices, spaces being left between the bars to receive a portion of the composition material'forming the tread or outer surface to provide a union between the two materials. This means of uniting the different parts of the floor plates is unsatisfactory both from an economical as well as a practical standpoint. The cost of fabricating the plates is excessive and insecure unions frequently result. Other previously tried forms have been open Vto the same objection. It is an object, therefore, to provide a metallic plate base to which the composition tread material can be readily and securely bonded.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved method of forming the metallic portions of the oor plate in order that such plates can be produced with a minimum amountv of labor, expense and material.

A further object resides in the formation of. a metallic oor plate base, having dovetail grooves, by a rolling process, which permits the formation of the plate base, in an elongated strip which can be cut to the size desired at a later time.

A still 'further object resides ina two-stage method of rolling the metallic plate or sheet which consists in first producing in the plate or sheet alternate longitudinally extending ribs and grooves and, secondly, in subjecting the plate or sheet to mechanical pressure forces which act on the ribs to spread the same laterally in order that the grooves formed between said ribs will possess inclined side walls by which a dovetailed formation isI imparted to the grooves, enabling the latter to readily receive the stratum of composition material when the latter is in a plastic state so that upon the subsequent setting or hardening of the composition material, the same will be mechanically bonded in virtually inseparable relationship with the metallic base member.

Additional objects Will be apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view partly in section i1- lustrating a floor plate formed with the present invention;

' Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a metallic floor plate base as it is passing between a pair of forming rolls ,on the initial forming step;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the plane indicated by the line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a plate passing between a pair of rolls on a nal forming step;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the plane indicated by the line V-V of Fig. 4;

Figs. 6 and 7 are sections illustrating a modified method of performing the nal forming step; Figs. 8 and 9 are vertical sections showing the improved method applied to the formation of in accordance -floor plate bases from thin sheet material;

Fig. l0 is a vertical sectional view on a plane indicated by the line X-X of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view through a oor plate embodying the base formed from sheet material.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I designates a floor plate, wall panel or other constructional element formed in accordance with the invention. The plate or panel l `includes a metallic base member 2 and an outer finish providing for tread layer 3 which may be formed of any suitable moldable material, preferably asphalt, cementitious or rubber compositions vor, in some cases, abrasive or friction producing, materials. The material is selected in accordance with the service desired therefor,

` such as in producing traction surfaces, weather resisting. properties or for ornamentation and the like.

The base section, to the formation of which this application is particularly directed, includes a planar back portion 4 and a plurality of integral, upwardly directed ribs 5. The ribs are spaced to provide grooves r6 and sides Vof the ribs are inclined to the vertical, thus providing the grooves with a dovetail shape. The dovetail grooves are particularly desirable since through their use a more secure union is provided between the base and the tread or body seciion 3. In forming the base member, the following method is preferred: A strip 'l of plate material. of proper width and thickness is heated to a degree most suitable for rolling purposes.

This heated strip is then drawn or rolled between Vthe hot metal to be pressed upwardly into the ing straight sidedribs 5a.

In order to facilitate the formation of the plate and to keep it from sticking to the roll between the collar vor ring sections, a stripper bar II is provided at the delivery side of the rolls. Sharpened finger extensions I2 project from4 the stripper bar into the annular spaces in the rolls and eectively separate the strip from the roll in the event of any tendency on the part of the plate to stick to the roll. After the strip has been drawn or rolled between the rolls 8 and 9, the latter being power driven, it is permitted to cool and is then passed between a second pair of-rolls I3. The latter rolls are bothsmooth faced and are adjusted in the mill frame (not shown) to provide a space therebetween which isslightly less than the thickness of the strip 1 at the location of the ribs 5a. When the strip passes between the latter rolls, the upperI roll spreads or presses the upper end of the ribs'5a increasing the area of the upper surface thereof. As the pressure applied by the roll is insuflicient to be transmitted to the ribs throughout their entire height, the greater amount of spreading will occur at the top thereof and the least at the bottom so that the upper portions of the sides will overhang, thus forming the dovetail grooves.

In drawing or rolling the plate strip through the space between the rolls, use may be made of the usual draw bench (not shown) which is `movable toward and away from the delivery side of the rolls. The forward end of the strip isv clamped to the draw bench andthe latter is` then moved awayfrom the rolls. In doing so, the strip is drawn between the rolls and the forming or Pinch rolls may be substituted for a draw bench if desired.

Figs. 6 and '1. show an alternative method ofv carrying out the operation of finishing the base after the primary forming operation has been completed. In this alternative method, the strip is passed between the rolls I3 with the ribs 5aV extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rolls. This method requires the strip to be passed through the mill twice, once in one direc. tionl and once in the reverse direction or with the opposite side portionof mill first. On the first passage, the over-all thickness of the strip at the location of the ribs is slightly reduced and the ribs are spread only toward the rear or last side to pass through the mill. Upon the second passage through the mill, when the-direction is reversed. the ribs will be spread toward the other side and the thickness further reduced. The result is the same as in the preferred method, a back portion l and the by dovetail grooves.

After the removal of the plate with the dovetailed groove formed therein by either of the above methods, I preferably subject the rib and ribs 5 which are spaced groove surfaces of the plates to treatment with 4 an etching acid, in order to roughen the rib and groove surfaces to obtain improved adherence between the plate and the plastic. composition materials applied thereto.

Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive illustrate the invention in the method above described olf rolling the l metallic base from a -strip of sheet material Il.

yOn the initial rib forming operation, the sheet is fed to the mill from a pay-off reel V(not show n) finishing operation performed.y

the strip fed. into the the nished plate having which is provided with a brake or other suitable means for applying tension to the sheet between the pay-off reel and theinitial forming rolls. This makes the sheet material feed smoothly and prevents wrinkling or other mechanical diiculfties. The initial forming rolls I5 in this instance are provided` with interiittingy collars I6 and longitudinally extending ribs and grooves are consequently formed in the sheet material I4 as it passes between the rolls in either a h'ot or cold state.

' The ribbed sheet material is next passed directly or continuously between another pair of rolls I1 and I'Ia, one of which has spaced annular raised portions I8 to enter into the spaced corrugations of the material. The space between the rolls I1 and I'lais also less than the distance from the under side of the sheet to the top of the ribs. This reduced spacing tends to flatten the ribs and finally results in vspreading them outwardly at the top and bottom to produce oppositely inclined walls at the sides of the grooves.

A barIQ extends transversely of the, mill at the discharge side of the rolls and a plurality of nger members 2li-'are secured to this bar.`

K 20 project into the space between the rolls and are disposed in the ribs between the raised portions I8 on the roll Hd. These members I9 assist in shaping the ribs of the sheet and prevent unguided flattening or deformation of the corrugations.

The finger members Succeeding coils of the sheet material may be and IIa. If desired, the sheet material when ribbed as above disclosed may also be acid treated to produce a roughened surface. It will be observed that the ribs and grooves are formed longitudinally in the sheet metal in planes perpendicular to the axes of the rolls I5, I1 and IIa. This fact enables the sheet metal to be engaged by the usual draw'bench, (not shown) in order that the' sheet will be under tension while being drawn and/or rolled. through the primary and secondary rolls. This fact is of prime importance in high capacity production in grooved or corrugated sheet of the type set forth and is in contrast with previous methods of corrugating sheet metal in which the corrugations are formed in the sheet parallel with the axes of the forming rolls. Again, the method permits of the forming of regularly and uniformly shaped grooves and tongues while under tension producing forces, without loss of shape or deformation of the rib and groove construction of the sheet.

Following passage of the sheet through the secondary rolls, the same may be cut or sheared into desired lengths. The outer or finished layer 3a of a composition substance, as above indicated, and while in a plastic state, is then applied to the upper surface of the sheet and firmly bonded l 2,198,281 .railway cars, motor trucks and other vehicles,

and in numerous other capacities. The processes provided by the presentinvention enable the metallic portions of such plates or panels to be produced-rapidly and economically with great convenience.

The dovetail grooves and ribs formed on the plates insure a secure connection or bond between the composition tread and the metallic base member.

While the door plate base has been shown in several forms and several methods of forming the plates have also been shown, it is my desire to reserve the right to make any changes in the plates and methods of forming as may be said to fall fairly within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is;

l. The method. of rolling relatively heavy metallic plate, the steps which comprise: passing such plate while the, same is in a heated state and under longitudinally applied tension-producing forces between a pair of vertically registering pressure-applying forming rolls, at least one of said rolls being provided with spaced annular rings of uniform diameter, the heated state of said plate and the pressure and shape of the forming rolls applied thereto producing relatively deep, parallel and unbroken longitudinally extending grooves ln at least one surface of the plate, said grooves being separated by corresponding unbroken longitudinally extending intervening ribs having vertical side walls, stripping said plate from the roll having the grooves, and following the formation of said ribs and grooves in the plate advancing the latterthrough a pair of pressure-applying swedging rolls, said latter rolls being relatively spaced to deform the outer por-` tions of said ribs so that the latter will overhang the bottoms of said grooves, causing the grooves to possess a relatively dovetail transversal cross section and adapting the plate for interlocking connection with a plastic coveringfmaterial applied to the grooved surface thereof.l

2. Ihe method of grooving metallic plate, the

steps which comprise drawing such plate while the same is in a heated state between a pair of vertically registering pressure applying forming rolls, at least one of said rolls being provided with spaced annular rings of uniform diameter, the heated state of said plate and the pressure and shape of the forming rolls applied thereto producing relatively deep, parallel and unbroken longitudinally extending surface of the plate, said grooves being separated by corresponding unbroken longitudinally extending intervening ribs having vertical side 'walls,'stripping said plate ai't'er passage between said rolls from the spaces between the rings on said roll, and following the formation of said ribs and grooves inthe plate advancing the latter through a pair of pressure-applying swedging grooves in at least one v rolls, said latter rolls being'relatively spacedto deform the outer portions of said ribs so thatv the latter will overhang the bottoms ofsaid grooves, causing the grooves to possess a relatively dovetail transversal cross section and adapting the plate for interlocking connection with a plastic covering material applied to the grooved surface thereof.

3'. The method of rolling relatively heavy metallic plate, the steps which comprise passing such plate while the 'same is ina heated state and under longitudinally applied tension-producing forces between a pair of vertically registering pressure-applying forming rolls, at least one of said rollsbeing provided with spaced annular rings of uniform diameter, the heated state of said plate and the pressure and'shape of the forming rolls applied thereto producing deep, parallel, longitudinally extending unbroken grooves in atl least one-of the surfaces of lthe plate, said grooves being separated by correspondingly longitudinally extending intervening ribs having vertically disposed side walls, apply-` ing stripping forces to the plate as the latter is advanced beyond said rolls to preclude adherence of the plate with said rolls, and then passing said plate between a pair of pressure-applying swedging rolls, the latter being relatively spaced as to deform the outer portions of said ribs so that the latter will overhang the bottoms of said grooves, causing the grooves to possess a substantially dovetail transversal cross section, whereby said plate is adapted for interlocking connection with a plastic covering material sub-A sequently applied to the grooved surfaces thereof.

4. The method of rolling relatively heavy metallic plate; the steps which comprise passing such plate while the same is in a heated state and, under longitudinally applied tension-producing forces between a pair of vertically regis- .tering pressure-applying forming rolls, at least one of said rolls being provided with spaced annular rings of uniform diameter, the heated state of said plate and the pressure and shape of the forming rolls applied thereto producing deep, parallel, longitudinally extending unbroken grooves in at least one of the surfaces of the plate, said grooves being separated by correspond- `ingly longitudinally extending intervening ribs,

pair of pressure-applyingv as to deform the outer portions of said ribs to produce overhanging shoulders whereby an interlocking connection will be secured with a plastic covering material subsequently applied to the grooved surface of said plate. s

vnvcENT J. cinsisoNs'.V 

